country, even as lawmakers gathered in the house chamber to hear the president, some key members had already been briefed on the intelligence, what the department of homeland security calls, quote, specific, credible, but unconfirmed threat information. an intelligence official telling us both new york and washington were mentioned as possible targets, ten years after the 9/11 attacks on new york and washington. abc news is reporting tonight that at least three people, including one american citizen, entered the country last month with the intent of launching some kind of attack using vehicles around the 9/11 anniversary. abc news, and again we stress this is their reporting, we can't independently confirm it, they cite intelligence officials as sources for these details. one official saying at least two rental trucks are being sought nationwide. former homeland security white house adviser have been working their sources. fran, what are you hearing? you have just spoken to a senior administration official. >> yes. we understand that the information they're acting on is only 12 to 14 hours old. they weren't surprised that they got last-minute information. what was different about this is it had more detail to it, and so they're working very hard to try and understand the real underlying source and credibility of this information, but they stress to me, you know, we have to act like it's real. so they're going through all the things you would expect. they're considering whether or not they need to raise the national terror alert system level. they say they think it's unlikely, certainly absent more information they wouldn't, but they have to go through the drill and they have to consider that. dhs and fbi are as we speak working on guidance that they will put out to state and local law enforcement authorities. they said they wouldn't share it with us, but they expect it will get leaked to us and they expect to have that out tonight. you know, they have been looking for this information. secretary napolitano has said they have heard chatter, but this, anderson, is the first time in a long time we've heard them use the buzz words "specific and credible" and of course that has everybody's attention. >> and abc news is reporting two rental trucks were being sought nationwide, a budget gmc truck and penskegmc truck were missing from kansas city locations. tom, what are you hearing? >> i just heard the threat information had come. it started from overseas and was reported to the u.s., that information had been heard concerning possible vehicle bombs in either new york or washington, vehicles being used for the attack as opposed to aviation. right now they're still trying to determine the credibility of it. the information was specific as far as vehicles, but trying to identify the specific vehicle or the specific people involved in it is still ongoing to determine if the information is actually credible. >> susan candiotti, based on your reporting, what are you hearing? >> well, you know, this additional information i'm hearing tonight is that as we've heard these bulletins that are about to come out, well, tomorrow morning here in new york city, mayor bloomberg, police commissioner ray kelly and the head of the fbi here in new york will be holding a news conference at city hall at 9:30 tomorrow morning to talk about this very specific credible threat that they are still trying to confirm. so that, again, raises the level of concern about this and the question is will they raise the threat level tomorrow morning too? >> fran, have you heard anything about the source of the information, whether or not it's based on documents that were found somewhere, whether it's based on human intelligence, whether it's based on some sort of a source, do you know? >> well, here's what was said to me, anderson. it's interesting, they wouldn't confirm to me whether it was a human or a technical source, but what they said to me was the information -- there was information overheard. the information we believe was reported accurately, what was overheard. what we're trying to confirm is is it true. and so if you look at the abc report, and it seems to me what they're talking about here is there's the specific information, whether they got it from the human or technical source, they believe they have got the information accurately. now they're trying to confirm whether or not what the information is that they have captured is true, is there really these people or these trucks that are being used to target new york and d.c. >> tom, do you know how fresh this information is to u.s. authorities? i mean we're just hearing about it now. do we know when u.s. officials found out about it? because there is a report saying that these individuals entered the u.s. in august. that would seem to be a fair amount of lag time between us hearing about it -- or officials hearing about it, if they are just hearing about it. >> well, the information i had was that it did not say specific individuals or when they arrived. it was just recently being reported as to the fact that it would involve vehicles, vehicle explosives, so i think that's still trying to be determined. >> and obviously, fran, this close to the anniversary, i mean it is a natural time for any kind of group that wants to make a statement to try to get attention. >> that's right, anderson. in terms of how old is the information, a u.s. official acknowledged that they have only learned of this information in the last 12 to 14 hours and so to your point, there seems a substantial lag time from when these people would have entered to when we found out. now, they have been watching the chatter and the threat information, they have been very sensitive. all the agencies have put their personnel on alert as we have gotten closer to the 9/11 anniversary. one of the things that has made them especially sort of interested is the fact that when they raided the bin laden compound, of course there was this reference to thinking about an attack timed to the 9/11 anniversary. they were very clear then that there was nothing specific and credible to suggest that there had been actual planning done to implement that. but given that reference at the bin laden compound and now this intelligence, needless to say, it's got everybody in the intelligence and law enforcement community very concerned. >> so, susan, you're saying there's going to be a press conference with mayor bloomberg tomorrow morning? >> that's right. the fbi, bloomberg and the head of police, the police commissioner here in new york city. and certainly the other information i have too is that it seems to dovetail with what we're hearing in other reports, that this is very recent information that we're getting. it goes beyond whatever was found in the bin laden compound. >> i just want to break in, new york congressman peter king who's chairman of the committee of homeland security who's been briefed on, this he also joins us now. congressman, what can you tell us? >> anderson, what i can tell you is that the threat is very specific, it's credible, but it's not confirmed. >> what does that mean? >> well, it means that they have information which is specific. there's reason to believe it could be true, but we cannot it's true. that's what's being done right now. attempting to find out if it is true, running down all leads and taking whatever action has to be taken. >> i know you've been briefed and obviously i assume part of that is classified and, therefore, i don't want to put you on the spot too much so i'm going to ask you a question and you can tell me whatever you can tell me. abc news is reporting tonight that at least three individuals, one believed to be a u.s. citizen, entered the u.s. in august by air and that authorities are now looking for two trucks, rental trucks that may have been taken from a location in missouri. >> anderson, i'm sorry, i really cannot comment on that. the briefing i received was classified and i do not want to give out any details other than to tell you there were very, very specific facts that were made known in this threat. >> what is your advice to folks listening who think, okay, on 9/11 do i want to go out, do i want to be in a public space, either in new york or washington? >> anderson, i would tell people right now to go about their lives, there's no need to panic. we don't know if this threat is real yet. it's being tracked down. i can tell you that the administration, all levels of law enforcement, federal, state and local where it's appropriate are checking out every possible lead, running this to ground, and we've come a long way since september 11th. we -- again, there are many -- many agencies are looking at this from every possible angle and so i would urge people not to give into any type of fear or panic. go about living their lives. just keep their eyes and ears open and listen to any more public announcements that are made. i understand mayor bloomberg and police commissioner kelly are having a news conference tomorrow morning. certainly no one knows more about this or is more expert than commissioner kelly. so i would just say listen to people involved. let me emphasize, there's no partisan element to this. the administration is handling this exactly the right way, doing what they have to do, and i certainly pledge to work with them in every way that i can. >> congressman king, i appreciate your time tonight, thank you very much. susan candiotti, i'm told you may have more information? >> yes, as i'm sitting here actually getting information from our pentagon correspondent, barbara starr, and she has confirmed some of what we have been reporting and attributing it elsewhere. she said the information is believed to have involved three individuals who have possibly entered the u.s., at least one believed to be a u.s. citizen, reading now. u.s. officials believe the threat is a vehicle laden with an explosive bomb, but, quote, the intelligence picture is not completely formed. not enough is known about the potential operatives and their plotting, so that again is from our pentagon correspondent, barbara starr. >> it's also important to note that often the early reports on something like this are often inaccurate. >> true. >> so again it's important to note that and take this for what it's worth, putting the information out there. obviously the congressman said no reason at this point to alter anything as this weekend approaches. susan, all our correspondents, fran townsend and tom fuentes, appreciate your reporting. we'll continue to update throughout the hour and follow the story as any late developments throughout the night. now, the president's address to congress and the nation tonight on jobs, 14 million americans are looking for work right now. millions more have given up looking. the economy at best is stuck in neutral. tonight the president laid out proposals he says will get it moving again. everything in the run up to this moment has been contentious right down to the scheduling of it and chances are everything in the aftermath will be just as loaded with conflict and partisanship. that is precisely why the president called on both parties to set aside -- tonight we'll look at whether that's a realistic hope and more pleer importantly what's in the president's plan. senator mccain is with us and so is the man who speaks for president obama, but fist, here's the president himself. >> i am sending this congress a plan that you should pass right away. it's called the american jobs act. there should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. everything in here is the kind of proposal that's been supported by both democrats and republicans. including many who sit here tonight. and everything in this bill will be paid for. everything. this idea came from a bill written by a texas republican and a massachusetts democrat. the idea for a big boost in construction is supported by america's largest business organization and america's largest labor organization. it's the kind of proposal that's been supported in the past by democrats and republicans alike. you should pass it right away. the american jobs act will not add to the deficit, it will be paid for. and here's how. [ applause ] the agreement we passed in july will cut government spending by about a trillion dollars over the next ten years. it also charges this congress to come up with an additional $1.5 trillion in savings by christmas. tonight i am asking you to increase that amount so that it covers the full cost of the american jobs act. and a week from monday, i'll be releasing a more ambitious deficit . a plan that will not only cover the costs of this jobs bill but stabilize our debt in the long run. here's the truth. millions of americans rely on medicare in their retirement and millions more will do so in the future. they pay for this benefit during their working years. they earn it. but with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. i don't pretend that this plan will solve all our problems. it should not be more will it be the last plan of action we propose. what's guide us from the start of this crisis hasn't been the search for a silver bullet, it's been the commitment to stay at it, to be persistent, to keep trying every new idea that works and listen to every good proposal, no matter which party comes up with it. regardless of the arguments we've had in the past, regardless of the arguments we will have in the future, this plan is the right thing to do right now. you should pass it, and i intend to take that message to every corner of this country. >> our panel of analysts joining us in i moment. first joining us is arizona senator john mccain, president obama's opponent back in 2008. senator, thank you for being with us. when you hear the president talk about infrastructure and investment, do you hear the word "stimulus"? >> yes, i do, and i'd be, again, very curious how we're going to pay for it. the president said he's going to send over a detailed plan, that's fine. look, i agree with payroll tax cuts. i think that infrastructure is important. we need to know how it's paid for. but some things are puzzling. for example, he keeps talking about he wants us to pass free trade agreements. those free trade agreements have to be submitted to congress. he's not sent them over. and i agree that we have to fix medicare and keep present benefits for present beneficiaries, but if he's looking at using those savings for other purposes rather than shoring up medicare, then certainly most of us are not going to agree with that. so we need to know how it will be paid for. it is another spending package but the president is a very effective speaker and i hope that there are areas that we can agree on. i think there are. >> so you think there may be some areas that -- or enough areas that maybe some sort of a deal can be worked out? >> well, i certainly hope so. i think, as i said, we could agree on the payroll tax cuts. i think those could be very helpful. we know we have to fix medicare. we know that there are other areas that we could agree on. but they are not, frankly, of the size that would really have a real effect. he did mention homeownership. anderson, if there's one major cause of the recession, it was the housing meltdown. last week in my state, home values are at a ten-year low. just one sentence about really what is causing enormous economic problems in my state and across this country, nearly half the houses in arizona are under water. we've got to focus on the housing. we took care of the financial institutions, according to bloomberg. we gave $1.2 trillion to major financial institutions. meanwhile we did nothing to stop the housing crisis. this recession will not begin to end until housing prices stabilize. >> that's an incredible fact there, half the houses you say are under water. >> nearly half the houses. nearly half the houses in arizona are worthless than their mortgages. >> at this point, though, do you believe -- you know washington better than anybody. have things become so divided that at this point with an election coming up, is some kind of a deal even possible? >> we look at the president's polling numbers and they are obviously very bad. have you seen congress's numbers lately? >> 13% i think. >> we seek approval too, you know. i've said it before, maybe it's worn out, but only 10% of the american people approve of congress. not one in that 10% has attended a town hall meeting of mine in arizona. so we want to work with the president. we want to be able to go home and say we're going to cut your payroll taxes so that you can hire more people, small businesses. we want to do the things that we can in order to stimulate small businesses and keep people in their homes. we want to be able to show them some results as well. so i think there are some areas we can agree on. >> before you go, i just want to ask you about this -- >> sure. >> -- 9/11 threat that we're now hearing about, a lot of different reporting on it. it seems like some sort of credible, specific but authorities are saying unconfirmed threat. it's a little bit confusing, those 3 adjectives, but what do you make of it? how seriously do you think someone sitting at home should take it? >> well, i think our law enforcement agencies are taking it seriously. i don't think there is a cause for panic or alarm or change in lifesty lifestyle, because then they begin to win. i do have confidence in our homeland security people and our enforcement agencies, but i do think it's a matter of concern and it's a reminder that this struggle against radical islamic extremists is still a long way from over. >> senator mccain, i appreciate your time, sir. thank you very much. >> thank you, anderson. >> we have just confirmed that mayor bloomberg is going to have a press conference tonight at 9:30 p.m. here in new york. we've obviously the commissioner of police will be involved as well as we believe fbi officials. we'll do everything we can to bring that to you live. we're on facebook, follow me on twitter @anderson cooper. our political panel joins us after the break. just ahead we'll look at claims president obama made about his previous economic plan and the consequences if it didn't work. are the criticisms of it fair game? we'll show you what he said and talk to jay carney about that and the terror threat. also, sizing up the plan compared to the first stimulus and checking out allegations that the current package is too small to help the economy but is just right to use in the 2012 campaign. how about that? to keep in balance after 50, i switched to a complete multivitamin with more. only one a day women's 50+ advantage has ginkgo for memory and concentration, plus support for bone and breast health. a great addition to my routine. 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